I LOVE books – I read a lot!

As such, I have an extensive library. Below are just a few of the many books that have shaped me in my leadership research and practice. I know that our lives are saturated with information overload and few of us have time to read the exhaustive amount of amazing books that exist. I hope that distilling this list will help you start, or continue, your leadership reading journey with books that pack a punch.

Frankly, I am a slow reader. I like to pour over every word, pause to think about how they relate to my world, and re-read them. I have lots of sticky tabs I use to highlight really impactful thoughts. I even keep a spreadsheet of the books I read, catalogued by topic. Okay, I guess there is no denying, I’m a total nerd!

As a leader, I believe part of our responsibility is to keep improving ourselves. With that is the obligation to keep exposing ourselves to new information and ideas!

Powerful Leadership Ideas:

Thankfully, there is an ongoing number of researchers that bring us refreshing perspectives on leadership. This is a short list of the many amazing authors who are incredibly influential in framing the OtherLeadership perspective. This list keeps growing and the talent makes it difficult to narrow the list down. I do so purely with the interest of keeping the reading list to that which most directly addresses research I think is relevant to our mission. Stay tuned for additions!

• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. – Brené Brown
• The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth – Amy C. Edmondson
• Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone – Brené Brown
• Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success – Adam Grant
• The Leadership Challenge – James M. Kouzes & Barry Z. Posner
• The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek
• Mastering Leaderhip: An Integrated Framework for Breakthrough Performance and Extraordinary Business Results – Robert J. Anderson & William A. Adams

Learning How to Learn:

I am kind of obsessed with the idea that we all need to be better learners. We sometimes attempt to capture this idea as “critical thinking” but we can’t do so without the ability to learn. Our learning involves multiple facets, including our ability to pursue mastery, our willingness to challenge our assumptions and beliefs, and understanding that learning includes a very influential social dynamic. Here are some of my top reads in this arena:

• Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning – Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, & Mark A. McDaniel
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck
• Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know – Adam Grant
• Thinking in Systems: A Primer – Donella H. Meadows
• The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization – Peter M. Senge
• Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment – Daniel Kahneman, Olivier Sibony, & Cass R. Sunstein
• The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human – Jonathan Gottschall
• Iconoclast: A Neuroscientist Reveals How to Think Differently – Gregory Berns
• Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth

Understanding People Dynamics:

Here’s the thing: you are not a leader without other people. Think about that. You might spend a good amount of time researching or training in different technical domains, but how much time do you spend learning about other people? In my opinion this is one of the most overlooked, yet most important aspects of effective leadership. I encourage you to read about history, social issues, generational influences, and the endless other topics that shape how people think, feel, and behave. Here’s a good list to start with:

• Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides – Geoffrey L. Cohen
• Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life – Susan David
• Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect – Matthew D. Lieberman
• Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking – Susan Cain
• Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling – Edgar H. Schein & Peter A. Schein
• Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do – Claude M. Steele
• Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millenials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents – and What They Mean for America’s Future – Jean M. Twenge